Sharing libraries between user accounts question

After many years of having one user account on our iMac, I have decided to segregate user accounts for me and my wife. I'm doing this because I have an iPhone and she is going to get one soon. When we sync our respective iPhones, we want to keep iCal and and Address book information unique to each user account. What I'm trying to figure out is how to share iPhoto and iTunes content between user accounts. I know there is a share preference that will allow the master libraries in these applications to be shared, but the photo albums and playlists created on the original user account are not "shared". Would it be possible to have playlists from iTunes and albums/events from iPhoto to be shared between user accounts? This would enable my wife to sync all her iPhone data from her user account. Thanks in advance.

I have an idea that uses a different approach. I haven't done this for this purpose, so if you decide to try, please do it one step at a time so you can undo it. I'll explain it for iTunes.
Instead of using the Sharing preference in iTunes, put the iTunes Music folder in a location that can be accessed from both accounts. You might use an external drive, or the <hard drive>/Users/Shared folder.
iTunes should NOT be running. Go to /Users/<username>/Music/iTunes folder. In that folder is the iTunes Music folder. Copy this folder to a location on the external drive or to the Shared user folder. Rename the original iTunes Music folder another name, such as iTunes Music Old. Make an alias of the new iTunes Music folder (in the shared location) and put it in the user's iTunes folder (where iTunes Music Old now resides). Rename it "iTunes Music" if necessary (you are making the alias take the place of the actual iTunes Music folder). * It is very important that the name be exact.
Start iTunes. All of your music and other media should be accessible as if the iTunes Music folder is where it used to be. To prove to yourself that the files are being accessed from the new shared location, do a Get Info on a couple of songs in iTunes. "Where" should show the file to be in the new location. To prove to yourself that you can add new content to the new location, download a free song from the iTunes Store (or a Podcast) or rip a CD. Then do a Get Info on the new item.
Up to here, I'm confident it will work, because I have done it. The rest is "theory"...
Copy the old user's /Users/<username>/Music/iTunes folder (except the now duplicated iTunes Music Old folder) to the shared location. You are only doing this step so that it will be available when you log in as the new user (your wife's account), which is the next step.
Log out and log in to the new account.
Copy everything in the old user's iTunes folder (that you just put in the shared location) to the new user user's /Users/<username>/Music/iTunes folder. Replace any duplicated items. You want the new user's iTunes folder to look exactly like the old user's iTunes folder (except for iTunes Music Old). Hopefully, that iTunes Music alias will connect to the actual iTunes Music folder at the shared location. Try it. Run iTunes as the new user. Hopefully, everything looks like the old user's iTunes. Do the tests like before to prove it.
At this point, the two iTunes "looks" will start to diverge. But at least the starting point will be the same.
If something does not work as expected, log in to the old user's account. With iTunes NOT running, go to /Users/<username>/Music/iTunes folder. Delete the iTunes Music alias. Rename the iTunes Music Old folder back to iTunes Music. Everything should be back to the way it was.
If it works to your satisfaction, you can eventually delete that iTunes Music Old folder.
I don't use iPhoto, but if iTunes works, you can do the equivalent steps for iPhoto.

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Sharing iTunes between user accounts no longer works in iTunes 10.4

I recently upgraded to iTunes 10.4 (80). Still running Snow Leopard 10.6.8.
I have two user accounts on my MacBook Pro and my iTunes Media folder is shared i.e. /Users/Shared/ITunes/iTunes Media
This has always worked with no problems but since upgrading to iTunes 10.4 I can no longer see my iTunes content from both accounts.
First time I opened it after the upgrade it just presented me with an empty library. I eventually managed to see my iTunes content by deleting the iTunes library and xml files and relaunching iTunes. However when I quit and switch to the other user account I can't open iTunes - it keeps telling me that the library is locked or I don't have access to the files.
I have to keep manually resetting permissions on the iTunes folder & subfolders in order to be able to launch it but even when I manage to open it from the second user account I just see an empty library again.
I always used to be able to just quit iTunes in one user account and then launch it from the other; no permissions changes required. Now it just doesn't work.
Please can someone offer advice or is this a known issue with the 10.4 release?
Many thanks in advance.

I've been trying to do this same thing. My wife and I share one computer and she has her own login account to check email etc. I moved all the music, movies, videos to the shared folder. We can now "share" that music without having two iTunes media libraries. However, I want to remedy the situation of adding music from different accounts, adding and deleting playlists. How do I have that type of library data automatically get updated from account to account? I've asked this question in it's own thread about a week ago and it got buried with no responses or solutions.

Sharing Itunes between user accounts

Hi all,
I just came back to the mac and set up user accounts for myself and my wife. She tends to do most of the photo editing and I do most of the music stuff on itunes. I heard that I can set it up so that she is actually using my itunes or library even though she is on her login in. And we could do the same with the iphoto in reverse so that if I download photos it goes into the iphoto on her login. We would like to avoid having some music and pictures separated by the different logins. So my question is, is this the best way to set things up in our situation and how do I actually do it? Are there any hiccups when I sync with my iphone and she syncs with her itouch? Thanks for you help.

I've been trying to do this same thing. My wife and I share one computer and she has her own login account to check email etc. I moved all the music, movies, videos to the shared folder. We can now "share" that music without having two iTunes media libraries. However, I want to remedy the situation of adding music from different accounts, adding and deleting playlists. How do I have that type of library data automatically get updated from account to account? I've asked this question in it's own thread about a week ago and it got buried with no responses or solutions.

Sharing Music Between Users Accounts on a Single Computer

I know that you can listen to music belonging to another user account on the same computer (as long as that user remains logged in), however, is there a way to COPY (drag and drop) music from one user account to another user account (on the same computer) similar to how it is done between multiple computers with Home Sharing?

iTunes: How to share music between different accounts on a single computer - http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1203 - relocating iTunes' media folder to a shared area but leaving separate library files - extra tip at https://discussions.apple.com/message/17331189

Sharing Music between User Accounts

Hello,
I've been trying to share a single itunes music folder between two accounts on the same computer. I've read dozens of threads on this topic in these forums, and still can't seem to get this to work.
Right now, I'm going back to basics and simply trying to put the iTunes music folder in a Public folder, which can be accessible by both user accounts. I've followed the instructions documented in the following article:
http://docs.info.apple.com/article.html?artnum=93195
When I do this, I have a problem with permissions. If I move or copy the music folder on one user account to a public folder - when I switch over to the other user account, and access that public folder, some of the individual music folders within the itunes music folder are accessible, and then on others, I am denied permission. There does not seem to be anything unique about the folders that I don't have permissions on, compared to those that I do.
Any thoughts? Thanks.
ML
iMac G5, Mac Mini Intel Mac OS X (10.4.8)

Hi,
Thanks for the reply.
I did a copy paste of the iTunes Music folder into a new iTunes Music folder under Users/Shared. When I switch over to the other user account, I get the same results. Some folders are accessible and some folders I have no access. It's strange as about 25% of the music folders are No Access, and the others are readable.
Any further thoughts? Thanks,
ML

[SOLVED]Sharing files between user accounts.

I want two user accounts to have full access to a common set of files. I have created a group for that purpose but even with umask settings I always seem to end up with a situation where one user does not have full permissions to one of the "shared" files (e.g. because an application uses it's own internal umask).
Essentially, I want both accounts to act as a single account for certain files, and I have considered sharing the UID, but that creates problems with user names and also exposes all files owned by either user to the other. I have also considered solutions using bindfs, but managing the mount points might become complicated, so I'm hoping that there's a simpler solution.
So, my question is what is the best way to ensure that two users always have full access to a set of files in a given location, which still enabling both users to have private files elsewhere?
Last edited by Xyne (2012-03-05 00:16:55)

Thanks, falconindy.
The setgid bit does most of what I need. The rest can be done with access control lists, which I discovered as I was reading up on setgid:
http://brunogirin.blogspot.com/2010/03/ … etgid.html

Sharing email between User accounts

Can I set up an email account so that I can access it from multiple Users? I would like to avoid having to go through the same set-up process separately for each User account? Otherwise I have to download all my old emails from the web server separately for each User account. Many thanks.

Hi,
Thanks for the reply.
I did a copy paste of the iTunes Music folder into a new iTunes Music folder under Users/Shared. When I switch over to the other user account, I get the same results. Some folders are accessible and some folders I have no access. It's strange as about 25% of the music folders are No Access, and the others are readable.
Any further thoughts? Thanks,
ML

Sharing files between user accounts

I have just set up a new user account on my MBP and I can't really work out how to provide the new user access to the files and folders inside my home folder.
I'm particularly interested in photos and music for use in iLife apps. I have started to play with file permissions but so far I've failed. Can anyone help?

That method works but it has a few caveats:
-The user account that "owns" the iTunes and iPhoto libraries must be logged in with those apps running for other local users to access them; and
-The libraries will be read-only for all but the account that owns them. That means no other users can add items or edit anything.
If the above solution works for you then by all means go for it. It's far too restrictive for my needs. If, like me, you want both user accounts to have equal access, with ability to edit, you need to follow the hint I linked in my above post.

Sharing files between user accounts without permissions issues

I have two user accounts on my iMac and need to make files available to both accounts, back and forth, without having to worry about permissions issues. Files need to be read and edited from both accounts. I posted previously about this and was told to place the files in Users/Shared. I've done this but it hasn't accomplished what I need.
I created a document in one account and saved it to Users/Shared, but when I opened the document from the other account and tried to edit it, I was told that I didn't have permission to edit and that I needed to duplicate the file. How can I avoid having to set permissions for files that I need to edit from both user accounts?

Or not.
I butt up against this lunacy frquently.
I have just created a file saved to my external NAS - no problem - tried to save my edits - now don't have permission to do so. Again - checked - custom access - again. Ridiculous.
Why can Apple not sort out this fundamental problem - if I create a file and put it on my network where I WANT IT - the OS should not then prevent me from accessing it.
I spend hours, regularly, trying to sort this out. Apple OS is a joke.
And to be kept being told - do this, do that, use terminal, reset passwords is ridiculous.
Sorry for the rant.
But this is the limit.
Mike

Sharing Applications between User Accounts

Have just bought a new iMac having used windows based PC's etc....QU: I recently installed MSN Messenger whenlogged in as me (Administrator) however my wife created a USer Account and she had to re-instal MSN Messenger as it had disappeared from the box at the bottom of the screen. I am concerned that there are two applications installed where there only need be one?
iMAC

Just to expand a little on what Terence said in his post (since you are a new Mac user)...
There are two places (normally) where you store your applications (although the Mac doesn't really care where you put them. There are also THREE Library folders (if you weren't confused enough, but the first one inside the System folder should not be modified in any way).
The first, and most preferred location to store apps, is in the Applications folder on the top level of your hard drive (represented as /Applications).
The second location, for users who do not want to share their apps with other users on their machine, is in the user's own home directory (represented as /Users/YOURUSERNAME/Applications).
Normally, most applications are automatically stored in the first location (neither of my machines even have an Applications folder in my user folder - maybe because I am the only user of the machines). I am sure, though, there are some installer programs that might want to install its application in the user's home folder instead of the top level apps folder (MSN perhaps being one of them), so long story short, you should be aware of where you install your apps, so that other users can also use them.
Cheers, and welcome to the Mac family!
Thomas

Sharing Libraries between users.

Hey All
Is it possible to share one iTunes library between multiple users on one computer?
Spencer

http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1203
I found this by typing "share itunes library" into the search bar above.

Sharing between User Accounts

I'm new to Macs and need some help.
I have 2 user accounts on my mac and want to share picture and music files between the accounts. Both can be read & write. All my music is in the iTunes music folder. Even when I share that folder I can't get to the files on the other account. Each artist has their own folder within the iTunes music folder and they all have the minus symbol beside them when viewing from the 2nd account. How do I share these files between user accounts?
Also, where do I save my pictures so that they can be seen on both accounts?
I started to share all the folders with in iTunes but that was taking forever so I quit the process and now my public folders are not showing as shared in the preferences. How do I get my sharing preferences back to the default settings?

I now have my mac set up just the way i want. thanks for the input you all gave! How I did it:
in the file sharing system prefs i deleted the "ghost" folders that were showing. I call them ghost folders because they were grayed out and not clickable. They were pointing to a folder that I had removed from my system because I deleted my user account so that i could start over from scratch to set things up right from the beginning. This still left these folders in the sharing menu so I just had to delete them one at a time until they were all gone making everything look clean again.
I learned that sharing files between user accounts on the same computer (and even the guest account) can only be done with files that are in the public folder. Adding my iTunes Music folder to the sharing list did not share my mp3 across users on the same computer. I just had to move the iTunes Music folder (not the iTunes folder) to the public folder so the other account could access it. Then I followed the directions in the link provided in this thread about sharing in iTunes. Now I don't have to have my wife's Maria Carry in my library! And she does not have to have my songs in her library!
For photos I placed the files in the public folder and just imported them into the iPhoto library for each account.
On a side note, having our own accounts allows us to set up the computer they way we want, but allows us to have access to the same files. I'll be adding a 500gb hard drive to it soon for time machine and can't wait to have that set up. My only question now is when can i add time capsule? Can I add it as a 2nd wireless network in addition to my linksys wrt54g2 that is connected to the cable modem (i need the linksys connected to the internet for xbox live and ps3's network), i know i would then connect the external HDD to it for more storage, therefore I guess I would move all mp3's and picture files onto it freeing space on the computer and just direct both user accounts to the files on the HDD connected to time capsule.

How can I share files/libraries between users?

I have tried to enable file sharing between me and my hubby. I would like to share iTunes and iPhoto libraries but cannot. I don't want to have the same photos & CDs replicated just so we can have two different logins.
How can I do this?

Hi, Loker. Welcome to the Discussions.
Mac OS X and other UNIX®-based systems, in general, are not set up to easily share data between users. A fundamental idea behind UNIX security is each user's data is theirs and theirs alone, and a user must take steps to share data on their accounts with other users, either on that computer or over a network. This is why, in Mac OS X, the Users > Shared folder exists: all users have Read & Write access to such, providing a "commons" for easily sharing documents between users on the same Mac. The Public folders in each account are extant for a similar reason.
Simply changing the access privileges on the folders of a given user may provide access to the files within those folders, but does not change the access privileges on the individual files within such: you may be able to see the files, but not use them. This depends on the application. Additionally, applications often expect to find their specific content in a specific location, usually one owned by the user who created the content.
ITunes and iPhoto have generally been designed as single-user applications. Despite Mac OS X being a multi-user operating system, Apple did not initially consider the idea of a "family" computer where a family would all share and update common music or photo libraries.
Some of these issues have been addressed, albeit IMO somewhat inadequately, by adding content-sharing functions to recent versions of iTunes and iPhoto. This was primarily for sharing content over a local network, but these methods also work between users on the same Mac. You can find relevant information by searching the Help for iTunes and iPhoto. In iTunes, select Help > iTunes Help. In iPhoto, select Help > iPhoto Help.
The downside of these approaches are the requirements they place on the account sharing its music or photos. Specifically, that account must be:
1. Logged in, and...
2. The specific application -- iTunes, iPhoto -- must be running to share its content.
These functions also place limitations on what you can do with shared content, delineated in the "About" documents you will find in the Help related to sharing.
More sophisticated methods for sharing iTunes music, iPhoto photos, iMovie projects, and other application-specific files between users on the same Mac are generallly found in magazine articles or by searching the Web. A good site to search is Mac OS X Hints. You can also search or post on the iTunes Discussion, iPhoto Discussion, etc. for additional ideas.
Two useful magazine articles in praticular:
• The June 2006 issue of MacWorld also had some suggestions on iPhoto sharing that could also be applied to iTunes. That article is currently online: see "One iPhoto, many users."
• The article "Share Files and Apps with Multiple Users" by Fong and Willams in the August 2004 issue of MacAddict discussed techniques that generally involve the use of the Shared folder and UNIX symbolic links. You can order back issues of MacAddict by contacting their customer service office.
Good luck!
Dr. Smoke
Author: Troubleshooting Mac® OS X

How can I share my iTunes library between user accounts in iTunes 11

Since upgrading my iTunes library to Version 11 I can no longer share the library between user accounts on the same Mac.
The 2nd user is asked to create oir use an iTunes library, but when it is pointed to the Media folder it cannot share it.
Previously in iTunes 10 it all worked fine.
How can this be done please?
The library is in a shared areas that we both have Read/Write permissions to.

jc_hering wrote:
that works for anything he purchases after he creates the new account. What about his current music that currently resides in my itunes library? How can I get his current music out of my library into his new account/library?? Thanks..
Copy it to his computer into his iTunes library and authorize his computer with the iTunes account used to purchase them..
You cannot tranfser items from one iTunes account to another. Purchased items remain part of the iTunes account is was purchased with.
iTunes account - used to purchase items
iTunes library - where purchases (and CD RIPs) go on the computer

Sharing files between users and macs

My husband and I share an iMac. I have a MBA for traveling and my husband a PC laptop (though he rarely uses for private stuff). We both have iPhones.
We are looking for a way to:
- Share our photos (we don't use iPhoto) and some files. We would like to have this in one shared folder, that we can access from both accounts in the iMac, the MBA and ideally (though not a must) the PC and iPhones. We would both need to have admin rights to edit documents, etc.
- Have access to all the information in my account on the iMac from the MBA. Ideally, same thing for his and the PC.
- Have access to all the data remotely when traveling.
- Have all the data backed up locally (we already have a cloud backup, but we'd like to have a local backup too as it's easier and quicker to access)
We have read a lot about configuration, NAS, time capsule... but we get more and more confused, as we are obviously no tech experts.
Dropbox is not our preferred choice. We already have a cloud backup system. We'd rather have the files stored and accessed locally for everyday use.
Using a NAS to store shared folders and backup the rest sounds good, but they either seem very complicated to set up, or they have mixed reviews in terms of stability, especially to access files remotely.
Timecapsule seems easier and more straightforward, but I'm not sure it would solve the "sharing files between users and macs with admin rights"? It seems to be more focused on backing up the main drive and then providing access to the backed up files. (Though I might be completely mistaken!)
We just can't manage to have one shared folder between both accounts in the iMac. We need to grant admin rights document by document. We don't manage to make it work automatically so we both have one folder to access with full rights for all the contents inside it. And this seems to me like something that should easily be done...?
Any help, advice, proposals... would be greatly appreciated!!!

Move any file you want to the other user to access to the Shared Folder. Anything you put in that folder is available to all users.
The shared folder is here:
Macintosh HD > Users > Shared

Sharing libraries between user accounts question

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